I recognize that RIGHT NOW, for instance, in the next 5-20 games, Escobar may produce better results offensively than Beckham, but considering the delta between the two, even when Gordon plays at his absolute worst and Escobar at his best, I'd much rather eat that shortfall and give Gordon a chance to resurrect is career.

However, I think it may be time for Gordon to go back to Charlotte...and if that is what the organization determines, then yes, let OC (I mean Escobar) play in the interim (and Lilli).

But that would be doing so for different reasons.

It is sad I'm talking about either of these guys as starters at this point. Beckham needs some serious work and I agree with you that AAA would be the best place to do it. I am hoping that a new hitting coach could be just what the doctor ordered.

Okay, the odds of Jackson getting 200+ AB's are greater than Cowley winning the Pulitzer Prize.

Well, I guess I now have a vested interest in Conor Jackson's career. He's going to be this year's "Alejandro de Aza" for me.De Aza is the last player whom I tauted on this site. I raved about him for almost two years, and everyone on this board, gave me suchgrief: "He's a 4TH outfielder", "A career Minor Leaguer," "He's a AAAA player".

I was pretty thrilled when he finally showed everyone what he could do, last season.

I'm hoping that you neighsayers will be eating crow over Conor Jackson, this season.

By the way, I forgot to ask this yesterday...what site gives you LH/RH minor league split statistics?

I've never found a site that gives historical Minor League splits. There are sources for the current season, but not past years.

When I spoke of de Aza's great numbers versus RHP at Charlotte, it was from memory. I even remember posting his numbers in a thread, during the 2010 season.If anyone knows where to find previous seasons' split Minor League stats, please pass the information along.

I'm in favor of keeping a regular pattern through the first 40 games. Use pretty much the same starting lineup each game while giving the bench players each 1-2 starts a week. Then after the 40th game, you have a good sample size on the starters and still a somewhat small one with the bench guys but still enough info to figure out what the optimal lineup will be the rest of the season.

I think I'll add McPherson to the list of replacement candidates. Send Escobar and Stewart to Charlotte, and bring up both Jackson and McPherson.Dallas starts at 3B vs RHP. Morel is the starter vs LHP, and the defensive replacement, in the late innings.

Jackson takes all of the LHP at bats from Dunn. If you think it's too early to give those at bats to Jackson, then bring up Dan Johnson, and give them to him. I know that he's left handed, but he's never seemed to have much of a problem hitting LHP. Some hitters are actually better against pitchers from the same side.

It's only when a guy demonstrates that he can't hit either lefties or righties, that you need to make a change or platoon, as is the case with Dunn. Can you believe that he's 0 for 11 vs. lefties so far. Here we go again.I just can't watch Dunn giving away every bat versus LHP. Anyone can see, that he has no chance.

The current offense simply can't be allowed to repeat last year's debacle. There is no reason to stubbornly stick to Rios, Beckham, Morel, and against LHP, Dunn.

I think I'll add McPherson to the list of replacement candidates. Send Escobar and Stewart to Charlotte, and bring up both Jackson and McPherson.Dallas starts at 3B vs RHP. Morel is the starter vs LHP, and the defensive replacement, in the late innings.

Jackson takes all of the LHP at bats from Dunn. If you think it's too early to give those at bats to Jackson, then bring up Dan Johnson, and give them to him. I know that he's left handed, but he's never seemed to have much of a problem hitting LHP. Some hitters are actually better against pitchers from the same side.

It's only when a guy demonstrates that he can't hit either lefties or righties, that you need to make a change or platoon, as is the case with Dunn. Can you believe that he's 0 for 11 vs. lefties so far. Here we go again.I just can't watch Dunn giving away every bat versus LHP. Anyone can see, that he has no chance.

The current offense simply can't be allowed to repeat last year's debacle. There is no reason to stubbornly stick to Rios, Beckham, Morel, and against LHP, Dunn.

There is zero reason to call up Dallas McPherson, or anyone else who isn't in the plans for the future.

There is zero reason to call up Dallas McPherson, or anyone else who isn't in the plans for the future.

I don't buy that here on April 17th. The Sox have a good pitching staff, and there's no reason for this team not to play to win.

Sending Morel and/or Beckham wouldn't be a punishment. It's to help them get back some confidence at the plate without the big league pressure weighing on them every at bat. If a McPherson or Conor Jackson, or anyone else can help even a little over the next 6-8 weeks, then they should make some moves very soon.

The schedule is very gettable the first half. There's no reason why the Sox can't be 50-35 at the break if they get some offense from anywhere.

I don't buy that here on April 17th. The Sox have a good pitching staff, and there's no reason for this team not to play to win.

Sending Morel and/or Beckham wouldn't be a punishment. It's to help them get back some confidence at the plate without the big league pressure weighing on them every at bat. If a McPherson or Conor Jackson, or anyone else can help even a little over the next 6-8 weeks, then they should make some moves very soon.

The schedule is very gettable the first half. There's no reason why the Sox can't be 50-35 at the break if they get some offense from anywhere.

Calling up "Dallas McPherson and Conor Jackson and giving them regular playing time" is not "Playing to win" by any reasonable definition.